West Bengal sets up expert committe to put a check on rising potato prices

KOLKATA: West Bengal government has set up an expert committee comprising cold storage owners, traders and officials from state marketing board to put a check on rising potato prices in the state. Jyoti variety of potato is selling in the state at a price of Rs 13 per kg as against Rs 9 per kg two weeks back.

Gopal Mondol advisor to the West Bengal Progressive Potato Traders Association said: ""We had a meeting today with the state agricultural marketing minister Arup Roy where it was decided to set up an expert committee. The minister has told us to see that price should not cross Rs 9 per kg. A review meeting will be held on next Monday.""

The government has also set up a task force to keep a tab on prices of vegetables and some essential commodities and prevent their hoarding and blackmarketing.

""We are committed to keep prices of vegetables and essential commodities under control and prevent their hoarding and blackmarketing"", the state agricultural marketing minister said.

""Unlike in last few years, the potato farmers were getting better price for their crops this year,"" the minister said. The state government has also taken steps to increase capacity in cold storages to preserve potato, while number of such cold storages were also being enhanced for the benefit of both the farmers and consumers.

The task force was set up by the Mamata Banerjee government after it came to power last year and the chief minister herself even visited big retail markets to see for herself the jump in vegetables prices at the cost of common man.